Ten Day Hiking Challenge

I love this quote from The Fellowship of the Ring:

After spending too much time cleaning and doing puzzles and lamenting about how hot it is, I decided I needed to make a plan.  So I created my own ten day hiking challenge to do ten hikes of at least ten miles for ten days in a row.  I also listened to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy while I hiked.

It was a fun challenge.  Here is one photo and one thought from each day:

Friday June 26- Ten mile loop at hall Ranch
Day one was easy - feeling motivated and loving the time on the trail.

Saturday June 27- Laurel and I decided to plan a backpacking trip to Thunder Lake.  The hike in was about seven miles and then we did some exploring to get up to ten.

This was our first mother-daughter backpacking trip and it was a ton of fun, especially with our hammock, mini playing cards, music and jetboil stove.  

Sunday June 28- Hiking out from Thunder Lake.  First I did some early morning exploring and then we hiked out.  I love early hiking in the backcountry- awesome lighting and no one else around.

Monday June 29- Early start to beat the heat (just like all the other days).  Headed to Rabbit Mountain with Willow.  She was happy to be included.  We did all three trails to get the ten mile goal in.

Tuesday June 30- Woke up at 4:30 so I could get to RMNP before six when the timed entry starts.  I parked at East Portal Trailhead and explored many of the trails around this area.  I was very surprised to come around the bend and see this guy with three of his friends practically laying on the trail. 

Wednesday July 1- Decided to explore one of my favorite local trails- Dead Man's Gulch- and see how it connects to one of my other favorite trails at Hall Ranch.  Came across this turkey parade and it made me think of my dad because he always called me a turkey.

Thursday July 2- Another very early start to get to RMNP before 6AM.  I thought by now I would be feeling great and enjoy this ten mile loop around Deer Mountain.  But between the heat and the elevation gain and the altitude, I was hurting.  I considered stopping the challenge and just making it a one week challenge.  Another interesting thing about this hike is it was a ten mile loop right in the center of the park, and still I only saw one person as I was coming off the loop.

Friday July 3- Even though I was feeling pretty tired I decided to at least give it a try.  I headed back to Hall Ranch but just did the Nighthawk Trail up and back to avoid bicycle traffic.  Even though I started out really tired, with each mile I felt better and I was really glad to head out again.  I always wonder when I pass this impressive rock wall 4.5 miles into the hike who built it and what the story is.  It is a very well constructed wall that I am sure served a purpose at sometime but for now it just feeds my imagination.

Saturday July 4- Laurel and I head out early to do a training hike for an upcoming backpacking trip.  We head up Flattop Mountain and continue along the Continental Divide Trail until we hit 5 miles.  It is an amazing day for an awesome hike.  Over 3000 feet in elevation gain but we still feel great.

 Sunday July 5- Justin and I did an afternoon hike from Button Rock to Hall Ranch via the Nighthawk Trail.  Even though I was on day ten I did not feel very strong.  I do not know how thru hikers do it or when it kicks in but for me, day ten felt harder than day one.  But I am glad I did the challenge and now it is time to catch up on chores.